The 200th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s death is generating intriguing and unique events throughout the city of Baltimore in 2009, as “Nevermore 2009” is in full swing. The events include a one-man show called “Poe in Person,” exhibits of varying types and interests at the Baltimore Museum of Art, tours of historic Poe places, a book festival, exhibits of paintings, drawings, readings and more inspired by the work and life of the mysterious, brilliant, and troubled writer.

Collectors of antique books and Poe-related fare are sure to find a host of opportunities to honor Poe’s memory and literary contribution during this year’s worth of events. To find out more, visit www.nevermore2009.com.

Not to be outdone by the Poe pageantry in Baltimore, the New York Public Library continues to celebrate its good fortune to receive one of 33 copies of Michelangelo: La Dotta Mano a book dedicated to the genius of Michelangelo Buonarroti. The book resides in the library’s Rare Book Division, a collection of 130,000 titles, spanning five centuries of literature, from the 1450s to the present. The book features a bas-relief of the Madonna della Scala (Madonna of the Steps) by Michelangelo, decorated paper, and silk-screen prints, among its many other features.

Whether you are a collector or books or simply one who appreciates a good book, there’s a world of fantastic discoveries to be found in old and collectible books.